Game apparatus



Sept. 7, 193 7.

E. B. HIATT 2,092,162

GAME APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1956 'INVENTOR.

E 5 Myrr- ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 7, i937 UNHTEE STATES GAME APPARATUS Enos B. Hiatt, Denver, (3010., assignor to Thomas M. Lyons and Thomas H. Barber, both of Denver, 0010.

Application May 25, 1936, Serial No. 81,623

Claims.

This invention relates to a game or amusement device of the type in which balls are thrown at a target. The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved target which will auto- 5 matically and eifectively retain the balls in the received position, without damage to either the balls or the target, in order that their positions may be noted for the purpose of scoring the accuracy of the throw. Another object of the invention is to construct a target with wedge-shaped receiving points of a character which cannot injure persons or damage the balls or surrounding objects.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a face view of the improved game apparatus, illustrating a ball in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a cross section therethrough, taken on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating an alternate method of mounting the target pegs.

Briefly, the invention comprises a series of spaced apart, rubber pegs, the spacing, taper, and resiliency of which, causes the ball to wedge itself between the pegs so that it will be retained in the position it strikes the target. The pegs may be either conical or pyramidal in shape. Their angle of incline must, however, be very gradual to provide the Wedging and retaining action necessary. Their points must be extremely 40 thin and pliable so that when a ball strikes the point of a peg, the latter will flex to one side, allowing the ball to pass and wedge into the intermediate spaces.

A satisfactory construction of the target is 45 illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The target illustrated consists of a complete, integral, unitary molded rubber article, providing a base plate it, from which a series of wedge-shaped, pointed pegs l l project. The pegs are preferably equally spaced about concentric rings l2 which divide the target space into a series of scoring circles. Each ring is preferably provided with a scoring designation, indicated at l3.

The pegs are preferably so spaced that regardless of where a ball strikes the target, its sides will be engaged by three of the pegs. However, should it happen that a ball strikes between only two of the pegs, their resiliency, and the wedging angle on which they are formed, enables the two pegs to hold the ball suspended. The pointed eX- 5 tremities of the pegs are very flexible so that they can be easily turned by impact with the ball so as to guide the latter into the intervening spaces. The ball may be of any suitable material. It has been found that a light rubber ball 10 of the sponge rubber variety has a better gripping surface and is more flexible than other types. Its extreme flexibility causes it to wedge deeply between the pegs H so as to be firmly retained in place thereby.

It is desired to call attention to the fact that the pegs are themselves of extremely flexible rubber so that they can spring outwardly under the wedging impact of the ball to allow their returning elasticity to cause them to clutch the ball 20 when the latter comes to rest.

While the form of Figs. 1 and 2 is a complete unit with the pegs molded thereon, it is conceivable that the target could be manufactured by attaching individual rubber pegs to any suitable 25 backing board. One method of accomplishing this is shown in the alternate form of Fig. 3, in which a rigid backing board is indicated at l4, and the resilient rubber peg at IS.

The peg I5 is molded with a stud portion I6 30 and a head H. The stud is passed through an opening in the backing board and the head ll expands to retain it in position. It is preferred to countersink the back of the board as shown at 18 to provide a receptacle for the head. Any other satisfactory construction could be employed for attaching the pegs, such as cementing them in place on the backing board, if desired.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A game target comprising: a series of flexible and wedge-shaped pegs of rubber composition; and means for supporting said pegs in spaced relation to each other.

2. A game target comprising: a series of flexible and tapering pegs of rubber composition; and means for supporting said pegs in spaced relation to each other.

3. A game target comprising: a backing board;

a series of wedge-shaped pegs extending out- Wardly from one face thereof in spaced relation with each other, said pegs being of resilient rubber composition that will flex and grip a ball between them.

4. A game target board comprising: a backing board; a series of spaced-apart, pegs of readily flexible rubber composition projecting from the face of said board, said pegs gradually tapering from a relatively Wide base to an extremely pointed and flexible extremity so as to exert a gradual wedging action to stop a ball.

5. A game target board comprising: a backing board; a, series of spaced-apart pegs projecting from the face of said board, said pegs gradually tapering from a relatively wide base to an extremely pointed extremity so as to exert a gradual wedging action to stop a ball, said pegs being formed of a flexible rubber composition that will bend readily and compress to engage the sides of said ball.

ENOS B. I-IIATT. 

